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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Moldova
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Moldova Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.
   Geography    Moldova Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 54.52%
permanent crops: 8.81%
other: 36.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
3,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
11.7 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 2.31 cu km/yr (10%/58%/33%)
Per capita: 549 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
   People    Moldova Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,320,490 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 365,733/female 347,305)
15-64 years: 72.6% (male 1,520,094/female 1,616,014)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 175,113/female 296,231) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 34 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 36.1 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.11% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.88 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.053 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.941 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.591 male(s)/female
total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 13.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 70.2 years
male: 66.51 years
female: 74.11 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.25 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
   Government    Moldova Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
note: pronounced kee-shee-now
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10 October 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001; cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or PSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
   Economy    Moldova Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas in disputes over pricing. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006. However, in 2007 growth returned to the 6% level Moldova had achieved in 2000-05, boosted by Russia's partial removal of the bans, solid fixed capital investment, and strong domestic demand driven by remittances from abroad. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. Nevertheless, the government's primary goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting of EU trade preferences and increased exports to Russia will encourage higher growth rates in 2008, but the agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$9.999 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$2.792 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 22.4%
services: 59.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.333 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 40.7%
industry: 12.1%
services: 47.2% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
29.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
33.2 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.5% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.764 billion
expenditures: $1.771 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.881 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.551 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
220 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
3.361 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31.69 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,200 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.35 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.35 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$569 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Russia 22.8%, Germany 12.2%, Italy 11.1%, Romania 9.7%, Ukraine 9.6%, Belarus 5.7% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.59 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Russia 20.8%, Ukraine 16.9%, Romania 13.4%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 6.1%, Poland 4.4% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$191.8 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.774 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$573.9 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Moldovan leu (MDL)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
lei per US dollar - 12.177 (2007), 13.131 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Moldova Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.018 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.358 million (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik (2006)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
40 (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.md
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
112,026 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
727,700 (2006)
   Transportation    Moldova Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 606 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 12,733 km
paved: 10,976 km
unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
424 km (on Dniester and Prut rivers) (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,668 GRT/17,585 DWT
by type: cargo 8
foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2007)
   Military    Moldova Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,066,459
females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.4% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Moldova Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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